Disleelandia

Primark Lumiere Ceramic Display Tea Light Holder

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Dis-LEE

A candelabra is a candle holder with multiple arms. All the better for Lumiere, the castle Maitre’d, to get frisky with a feather duster in the politically incorrect world of Beauty and the Beast!

You can see Mrs. Potts and Chip by clicking the links, and then enjoy this Primark Lumiere ceramic display candelabra here:

Now is that the face of someone who would get frisky with a lady? Yes. Yes, it is. But in all fairness to Lumiere, the feather duster in question was his girlfriend and she seemed to appreciate the attention. I don’t recall the singing tea light holder bothering anyone else. He was a perfect gentleman with Belle!

‘Lumiere’ is a French word for ‘light’. Other words you could use might be spotlight, glow, luminary, and gleam. However you chose to define the word, the personality of this character is certainly sparkling!

Primark produced this line of Beauty and the Beast display pieces for collectors, and they are not to be used as toys for children. This one was introduced to the market in 1997. It would have sold for under $20 US dollars.

Thanks for being our guest today! Be assured we did not at any time think of you as:

“INVADERS!”

Posted in Animation, Ceramics, Characters, Collectibles, Figurines, Movies | Tagged Animation, Beauty and the Beast, Candelabra, Candles, Candlestick Holder, Ceramics, Characters, Collectibles, Figurines, Lumiere, Made in China, Movies, Primark Ltd., Tea Light Holder | Leave a comment

Photo Spot: Horsing Around at Greenfield Village

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Dis-LEE

It’s rare to see a horse, well… horsing around! Usually, they are standing still while eating or just wandering slowly about in a paddock.

Recently I finally found a horse horsing around at Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.:

Itchy foot or innovative new dance move. You decide. As a photographer, I just love being at the right place at the right time!

Posted in Museums, Photo Spot, Photography, Transportation | Tagged Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum, Horses, Museums, Photo Spot, Photography, Transportation | Leave a comment

Places: Paddington (Store) at Paddington Station

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Dis-LEE

Paddington Station is a Central London railway terminus and London Underground station complex, located on Praed Street in the Paddington area. Dating back to at least 1838, the iconic junction has transcended transportation for one very small reason: Paddington Bear!

The children’s book character Paddington Bear was named after the station. He first appeared on the 13th of October 1958, and in the books, by Michael Bond, he is found at the station, having come from “deepest, darkest Peru” with a note attached to his coat reading “Please look after this bear. Thank you“.

On our recent trip to England, my wife just had to visit the Paddington store at Paddington Station:

This retail outlet isn’t necessarily large but does contain just about everything you’d want featuring the little brown bear. The t-shirts were particularly nice.

A statue of Paddington Bear by Marcus Cornish, based on the original drawings by Peggy Fortnum, is located under the clock on platform 1. We didn’t get to see that but did ‘meet’ two slightly different versions within the store.

And then there is the merchandise or souvenirs:

Smashed Pennies and pins, magnets and stuffies, all lined the shelves. We did buy a nice plush Paddington along with several keychains for friends and family. My only regret and criticism is that there wasn’t a Paddington Bear with the Paddington Station logo on him. It seems a logical thing to have being as it would be exclusive to this location.

But we couldn’t stay for long and soon it was time to board a train to other stations.

Another iconic spot that we’ve visited in England was the focus of a Disney song Portobello Road from the animated feature Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Why not visit there before you leave?

FUN FACTS: Michael Bond based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear that he noticed on a shelf in a London shop near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956, which he bought as a present for his wife. He was also inspired by the sight, during World War II, of Jewish refugee children from Europe arriving in Britain and of London children being evacuated to the countryside, the evacuees bearing labels perhaps similar to that attached to the bear Paddington “Please look after this bear”.

Posted in Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Pins, Places, Souvenirs, Transportation | Tagged Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, England, Marcus Cornish, Michael Bond, Paddington Bear, Paddington Station, Peggy Fortnum, Pins, Places, Souvenirs, Subway, Transportation, Tube, Underground | Leave a comment

Tropico Diffusion French Goofy Frosted Glass

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Dis-LEE

Who’s up for some fun with language? I found this wonderful piece at a charity shop recently and was immediately drawn to it because I had no idea what it was saying! You know, kind of like whenever Goofy speaks in general.

I did figure out that the language was French, and at least I knew it was a Goofy frosted collector’s glass:

Good luck finding this one on the All-knowing All-showing Internet! I have no idea of the age for this item, but we do have manufacturer. TROPICO DIFFUSION is a wholesale company based out of France. The company does still seem to be in business creating, among other things, frosted glasses with famous IPs on them.

Are you dying to know what it says? Read on:

Being as this was likely released in France originally; this character would not have been known as ‘Goofy’. Claire Delavallée, a French native speaker and former translator, says this about why Goofy is called ‘Dingo’ in France:

“‘Goofy’ is not only a name: before the character ever existed, goofy was an adjective. People who hear about the character immediately have an idea of his personality. In French, there’s no such word as ‘goofy’. It does not ring any bell. If Disney wants the French audience to feel close to the character, they need to give him a name to which we can relate. ‘Dingo’ is such a word: it is derived from the word ‘dingue’, which is an informal synonym for ‘crazy‘.”

It would appear either adjective describes our lovable goof!

Posted in Animation, Characters, Collectibles, Food, Glassware, Kitchen | Tagged Animation, Characters, Claire Delavallée, Collectibles, Food, French, Glassware, Goofy, Kitchen, More Relaxed There is Not, Plus décontracte y'a pas, Tropico Diffusion | Leave a comment

Disney Doorables Mickey Years of Ears Figures

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Dis-LEE

On a recent trip to the Disney Store within Target I found some unique items for sale. I’ve heard of the Doorables line before but didn’t really know what it was. To date, there are 62 figures to collect across 4 series.

I picked up this Special Edition Mickey Years of Ears Collection Peek:

Yes, it’s not a ‘pack’ but a ‘peek’. How adorable! I was attracted to these figures because they depict Mickey Mouse throughout the years of his career. The packaging is unique. Once you have the cover card off of the front you can open ‘doors’ to reveal the bags within:

Although each set comes with a Special Edition Certificate it is not numbered. So how limited this set is is not apparent.

Now it’s time for all our company to meet the many faces of Mickey:

The only figure that might not be obvious to some is the Technicolor one. Walt Disney Studios got involved with technicolor in the early 1930s. Technicolor had produced a new 3-color system; instead of just its usual red and green or blue, it now offered both green and blue at the same time. Disney was offered this new system and he eagerly accepted. Flowers and Trees was a huge success using the system. Disney secured a five-year contract for the use of the 3-color system for the rest of the Silly Symphonies. This effectively gave him an edge in the cartoon market. So, Technicolor is a pivotal part of Mickey’s history!

The main feature of each figure is the sparkly, glittery, eyes. The photographs don’t pick this up for every figure, but they all have it.

It’s unlikely that I will collect any more of these figures but having The Mouse in eight moments of his career is a great addition to my shelves!

Posted in Characters, Collectibles, Disney Store, Figurines, History, Special Edition | Tagged Band Leader, Bronze, Characters, Collectibles, Disney Doorables, Disney Store, Fantasia, Figurines, History, Mickey Mouse, Mouseketeer, Shorts, Special Edition, Steamboat Willie, Technicolor, Tiki, Topiary, Train Engineer, Years of Ears | Leave a comment

Book Review: 90 Years of Mickey Mouse

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Dis-LEE

Publisher: Insight Editions

Year: 2019

Pages: 304

Type: Hardcover

ISBN: 978-1-68383-696-4

“Mickey Mouse is the most popular Disney character.”

Or is he? This book doesn’t mention this fact, but Donald Duck far surpassed Mickey in popularity during the heyday of the cartoon Shorts. However, the book does also say that “he is one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in the world”, and I think we can all agree on that!

As you will see below, most of the content comprises two-page spreads with an image and a short factoid. For the most part these facts are accurate while some are a bit off. But no glaring mistakes seem to be present in the information given and a new-to-Disney or younger reader will benefit from the details.

I’m posting this on November 18th, 2022, to commemorate the date that Mickey debuted in the cartoon Short entitled Steamboat Willie. The year was 1928. So, although this book was produced to mark the 90th ‘birthday’ of Mickey Mouse, it has actually been, at this time, 94 years!

Mickey sports a new look now that has been very polarizing among Disney fans, to say the least! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses this new look and seems to be winning people over. But the new series of Shorts are still struggling to gain widespread acceptance. I like it!

Did you learn anything new? As I said, long-time Disney fans won’t be surprised by any of the information shared in this book. However, many of the images are quite fun and worth the cost.

I’d give this book a 3.5 out of 5 Stars. It’s small size (just 3″ x 4″) is perfect for little hands, but the content is basic and offers little new material. As a starter book for an aspiring Disney fan, it should work well enough. For the avid Disney collector, it will make a nice addition to their bookshelf.

The cost is $11.99 US or $15.99 CAN.

Posted in Animation, Anniversaries, Books, Characters | Tagged 90 Years, Animation, Anniversaries, Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Characters, Insight Editions, Made in China, Mickey Mouse, Ninety Years of Mickey Mouse, Reviews | Leave a comment

Hotwheels Classic Batman TV Series Batboat

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Dis-LEE

DC Comics Batman has so many vehicles it’s hard to keep track of them all! I’ve already featured the famous Batcopter on this site. Now it’s time to transition from the air to the water with the Hotwheels Classic Batman TV Series Batboat:

With trailer, no less!

Hold the Batphone, Batman! We need to fight crime on the open ocean. Let’s go back to the Batcave, hook up the Bat-trailer with the Batboat behind the Batmobile, tow it to the Batramp, launch it, and… too late. They got away.

I’m sure it all seemed like a good idea on paper.

Mattel has done a great job of recreating an authentic Batboat, in miniature. And as if Batman wasn’t cool enough already, his boat has flames on it!

The other problem I see with having a Batboat is the need to tow it to a harbor for launching using the Batmobile. The Batmobile shoots flames out of the back, as does the Batboat, and so would incinerate anything behind it!

Again, I don’t think this particular vehicle was thought through all the way.

Posted in Characters, Comic Books, Die Cast, Television, Toys, Transportation | Tagged Batboat, Batman, Characters, Comic Books, Die Cast, Diecast, Hotwheels, Mattel, Television, Toys, Transportation | Leave a comment

Primark Chip Ceramic Display Mug/Teacup

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Dis-LEE

This is one of three Primark ceramic display pieces that I am featuring on the site. They belong to a family member, not myself, but I would love to own them! You can see the Mrs. Potts by clicking the link.

Now we will switch from the mother to the son as we take a look at the little ‘boy’ with the distinctive feature, Chip:

So, why is Chip named ‘Chip’? It could be short for something, thus becoming a nickname. Obviously, it translates into a literal chip in his china when he becomes a cup. Mrs. Potts and Chip, and perhaps some others, turned into objects that related to their name. So, Mrs. Potts became a teapot and Chip became a teacup with an identifying chip in the side of it. Other theories relate to a chipped tooth in the child’s mouth when he becomes ‘Human Again!’, which might account for the nickname ‘Chip’, which he would have gotten fairly recently before the curse.

Nobody knows for sure, and Disney isn’t telling!

Primark lists this piece of merchandise as a ‘mug’ when in actuality it’s a teacup. Both mug and cup are types of drinkware used for consuming beverages though a mug is always bigger and thicker than a cup. All over the world, it is tea that is drunk from cups while mugs are usually reserved for coffee and hot chocolate or other hot beverages. Both are made of ceramic materials though they are also available in metallic and glass versions too.

As these are primarily intended for display purposes, and not everyday use, they are not suitable for the microwave or a dishwasher. Oh, and it’s not a toy. Just so we’re clear.

I love the packaging used for this line of merchandise. The characters from Beauty and the Beast are shown doing fun things reminiscent of the movie, but not necessarily from the movie.

“Hey, look what I can do!” – CHIP

Posted in Animation, Ceramics, Characters, Collectibles, Figurines | Tagged Animation, Beauty and the Beast, Ceramics, Characters, Chip, Collectibles, Figurines, Made in China, Mugs, Primark Ltd., Teacups | Leave a comment

CARS Mini Racers RSN 3-Packs

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Dis-LEE

I have an ever-growing collection of Pixar’s CARS die cast models. You can see how out of hand it’s getting by visiting my earlier post featuring a CARS 3 Racetrack Table. Complete with my regulation-sized characters.

But as my collection grows, I thought it might be nice to add a new dimension, a smaller dimension, to the mix. And so, I now have two CARS Mini Racers RSN 3-packs:

Starting with the Blue Team of Dinoco, we have Dinoco Lightning McQueen, Strip Weathers (AKA ‘The King’) and Gray. No, that’s not Mac! Gray is Strip Weathers’ hauler and a member of the Dinoco racing team. He is known for his large size.

These mini racers are just around the one-inch mark for size. I know they would like to be taken seriously, but they’re just too durn cute!

The Racing Sports Network (or RSN) seems to be a Disney/Pixar creation within the world of CARS. You can learn more about it by clicking the link.

And now on to my second set of Mini Racers:

I bought this set only for Hot Rod Mater! But it also includes Holley Shiftwell and Lightning McQueen with Racing Wheels.

I wasn’t enough for Disney to create myriads of versions of each CARS characters, they also had to do it in Color Changers, and now, Mini Racers! And I’m hooked again.

I picked up these sets for just $6.99 US at a Target store in Michigan.

Posted in Animation, Characters, Collectibles, Die Cast, Pixar, Toys | Tagged Animation, Cars, Cars 2, Characters, Collectibles, Die Cast, Diecast, Dinoco, Gray, Holley Shiftwell, Hot Rod Mater, Lightning McQueen, Made in Thailand, Mattel, Mini Racers, Pixar, Racing Sports Network, RSN, Strip Weathers, The King, Tow Mater, Toys | Leave a comment

Disney Munchlings Sweet Treats Scented Plush

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Dis-LEE

There is no end to the imagination found among the ranks of Disney Merchandise Sourcing & Distribution! This little Disney Munchlings Sweet Treats Scented Plush is just too cute and it smells as good as it looks. I bought this product at a Disney Store inside a Target store.

This line has eight possible toys found in a blind bag. I had hoped to get the Mickey Mouse as a cool mint candy, but Marie as a strawberry confection still satisfies my sweet tooth:

Each blind bag is $9.99 US which makes getting all eight an expensive undertaking! With tax, you’re looking at just over $90.00 US to get the set, but you can count on having to buy extra bags to find each plush. Best to buy eight bags and then use online selling sites to swap for the ones you are missing.

The packaging is quite inventive. I like that it is patterned after a bag you would get from a bakery after purchasing a real sweet treat.

Marie is made to resemble a wrapped candy:

These are small plushes that can fit easily in your hand. So, ten bucks might be a tad high for this product. Although they do have the scented aspect, so maybe the price is on point.

I was attracted to the packaging and the concept but primarily bought one bag just to see what it was all about and to provide content for the site. I don’t always shell out for such multiple marketing, but with this offering, I would have been satisfied with any of the characters, so I really couldn’t lose.

Posted in Animation, Characters, Disney Store, Merchandise, Plush | Tagged Animation, Aristocats, Characters, Disney Merchandise Sourcing & Distribution, Made in China, Marie, Merchandise, Munchlings, Plush, Scented Plush, Strawberry Confection, Sweet Treats, The Disney Store | Leave a comment